Coin gun



June 29, 1965 J. G. mew 3,191,588

com GU N Filed Oct 1O 1962 INVENTOR. 'Jo/m G. Theat- BY 1 444A Arrmvsy United States Patent O 3,191,588 COIN GUN John G. Thew, Westport, Conn., assignor to Raphael Lyman, Norwalk, Conn. Filed Oct. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 229,658 6 Claims. (Cl. 124-27) The present invention relates to a spring-loaded gun and, more particularly, to a spring-loaded coin-ejecting or discharging gun, of a type especially adapted for easting a coin into a toll basket at toll-paying stations on highways.

On many of the toll highways throughout the United States, special toll gates are provided for persons who have the exact coin for the paymentof the toll due, in order to facilitate toll payment and to save the cost of an attendant at that gate. At such toll gates, baskets with screen bottoms are provided into which the motorist throws the coin in payment of the toll, a procedure he may carry out by merely slowing down without stopping or waiting.

The accurate throwing of the ,coin in payment of the toll, however, is difiicult for most people and frequently results in the misdirection of the coin, so that it falls to the ground, requiring an embarrassing stop and delay to search for and pick up the coin and deposit it. This is due, mainly, to the fact that toll payments are generally made to the left of the drivers, who are generally righthanded and find it difficult to throw accurately with their left hand. Also, the left hand of a driver is generally confined against the vehicle side and not convenient to manage.

Further, the payment of tolls, in general, frequently requires the fumbling and fishing about in pocket or purse for the accurate coin; a further delaying procedure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device, in the form of a spring-loaded gun that will discharge coins and facilitate their accurate direction into a toll basket even for a right-handed person.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin-discharging gun, of the character described, which enables a person to discharge it with either his right or left hand, to thereby further facilitate and make conven ient the accurate direction of the coin into the toll basket.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a coin-discharging gun, of the character described, which may include a magazine for a great number of coins, to thereby eliminate the need for fumbling about in the pockets to locate the correct coin.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a coin-discharging gun, of the character described, that may be easily and conveniently cocked for coin-discharging and fired with one and the same hand, without the need for using the other hand, and, therefore, without the necessity for removing the drivers both hands from the steering wheel at any time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin-discharging gun, of the character described, which is of neat and attractive appearance and of sturdy and durable construction, and is compact and of light weight and convenient to carry in a pocket or purse, or store in a glove compartment of a vehicle.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a coin-discharging gun, of the character described, which is formed of few, simple and rugged parts and will not readily get out of order, so that it is sure and certain in its operation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the spring-loaded coin-discharging gun of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skill-ed in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It

3,l9l,588 Patented June 29, 1965 ice is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a coindischarging gun of the present invention;

'FIG. 2 is .a section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, partly in elevation, showing details of shape and construction; the gun being shown in uncocked position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing the gun in cocked position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the gun; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of the same illustrating one preferred form of trigger spring construction.

Generally stated, the gun of the invention is of the type in which the coin or missile to be fired forms part of the cooking mechanism and in which the cocking is effected from the front of the gun or, in other words, the firing spring is tensed by means of a rod projecting from the discharge or barrel end of the gun, so that the gun may be cocked by a pressing action against the rod, rather than the conventional pulling action required by spring guns of the prior art.

More specifically stated, and with reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the same comprises a preferably hollow handle or grip section, generally designated as 10, and prefer-ably formed of two equal halves, preferably formed of lightweight metal castings ,or stampings, as of aluminum, each designated as 12. The grip 10 is formed with a preferably integral hollow, vertically-extending coin-holding cylinder 14, at its forward edge, half of which is supplied by each of the grip halves 12. The grip 19 is formed at its top edge, to the rear of the coin cylinder 14, with flat, outwardly-extending flanges .16, whose surface is normal to the axis of the coin cylinder 14. The grip portionis formed at its forward end, forwardly of the coin cylinder 14, with a flat platform ls, extending laterally to each side of the cylinder and which is disposed at a level below the level of the flanges 16 a distance equal approximately to the thickness of a coin 20, or slightly greater.

The platform 1-8 is provided, immediately in front of the cylinder 14, with an opening 22 through which projects a reduced end portion 24- of a wider, preferablyarcuate trigger or coin release member 26 which may be formed with lateral extensions or ears 28 by which it is pivoted on the outer edges of the platform 18. The pivots 30 are so arranged that when the trigger 26 is pressed towards the cylinder 14, the end 24 thereof, projecting through the opening 22, is retracted and lowered to a position where it is below the upper surface of the platform- 18 and when the lowered end thereof is moved away from the cylinder 14, the upper end of the trigger extension 24 projects above the upper surface of the platform 18. Spring means, preferably in the form of a suitably curved leaf-spring 52 secured in suitable position on the coin cylinder 14, are provided for normally maintaining the trigger 26 away from the coin cylinder and the end of its upper projection 24 above the surface of the platform 18; the plate 36 and platform 18 forming, respectively, the top and bottom walls of the discharge nozzle 41.

The device of the invention further comprises a plate 36 overlying the grip 10 and the platform 18 and secured thereon. Rearwa-rdly of the coin cylinder 14, the plate 36 is formed with a longitudinally-extending slot 38, and forwardly of the slot 38 the plate 36 is formed with depending fianges 40 that rest on the platform 18 and space plate 36 from it a distance equal approximately to the thickness of a coin; the flanges 40 being spaced from one 41 into which the cylinder 14 opens.

.Secured to the upper surface of the plate 36 at the front end thereof is an upright lug 4 2 formed with an opening 44 through which is guided a gun-cocking rod 46 preferably formed or provided with an enlargement such as the ball 48, on the end thereof, that projects forwardly of the plate 36. The inner end of the rod 46 is downwardly-offset, as at 49, and extends through the slot 38 and has secured to its end projecting through the slot 38 and against the inner surface of the plate .36, a coindischarge element or plate 50. A contraction spring 52 is mounted over the rod 46 intermediate th lug 42 and the offset end 49 thereof; one end of the spring '52 being secured on the lug 42, as at 54, and the other one being Secured on the offset rod end 47, as at 56. The coin dis charge plate 50 is arranged to extend and overlie, when in normal position, the substantially greater portion of the coin cylinder.

A cover, generally designated as 58, having the domed center portion 60 that overlies and covers the rod and spring, is secured thereove-r, preferably by screws 62, which preferably extend through plate 36 and are set into the grip to thereby also serve to secure the plate 36 in position on the grip.

The coins 20 are held in the cylinder pressed against the coin-discharge plate 50 by the expansion spring 64 which underlies them; the latter in turn being held in place by the coin cylinder closure which may be in the form of a plug 66 fitting into the end of the cylinder 14 and which may be removably held in place by one or more detent pins 68 which are engageable in the bayonet slot 70 formed in the marginal edge portion of the cylinder.

The operation of the gun may now be described. To load the gun, the same is inverted with the cylinder opening upwardly disposed. A number of coins 20, such as quarters, are then inserted into the cylinder; the uppermost of them resting against the bottom of the coin-discharge plate 50, which overlies the greater part of the top opening of the coin cylinder 14 due to the pull of spring 46. The spring 64 is then placed over the coins 20 and is pressed against them by the plug 66 which is then turned to engage its detent pin 68 in the slots 70, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. To discharge a coin from the gun, the rod 46 is pushed inwardly to retract the coin-discharge plate to a point where its forward end escapes the inper-most of the coins 20 and brings the uppermost coin 20a'into alinement with the discharge nozzle 41. This operation may he performed without the assistance or use of theother hand of the person who holds the gun, merely by pressing the ball 48 against any convenient surface. Release of pressure on the rod 46 will cause spring 52 to move the discharge plate 50 against the innermost of the coins 20a and move it toward nozzle d ll until its forward edge strikes against the trigger projection 24, as clearly shown in FIG. .3. In this position the discharge plate partly overlies the coin immediately below the innermost one. The gun is now ready for discharging the coin 20a by pressing the lower portion of the trigger 26 towards the coin cylinder 14. This frees the innermost coin 20a for ejection by the discharge plate 50 through the contracting action of the spring 52; the inner end of guide slot 3 8 automatically limiting the movement of the discharge plate 50 beyond the innermost of the coins remaining in the gun.

To minimize the friction of the discharge plate 50 against the inner surface of the plate 36, a longitudinallyextending recess 72 may be formed in such inner surface, so that only the marginal edge portions of the discharge plate are in frictional contact with the inner surface of the plate.

This completes the description of the coin-discharge gun of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that such gun is compact and of relatively light weight and formed without sharp corners that may snag against the users clothing, so that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket of a garment or kept in the glove compartment of a vehicle and easily and quickly removed therefrom.

It will also be apparent that the gun of the present invention may be used to eject and throw a coin into a toll basket by the drivers right hand across his body with great ease and convenience and with much greater accuracy than possible by throwing with the right or the left hand. It will also be clear that the gun may be cocked for firing with the same hand that holds it, by merely pressing the enlargement at theend of the rod against any suitable surface. It will be further apparent that the gun provides a convenient place for the storage of coins for the paying of tolls in position for quick and convenient use.

It will be still further apparent that numerous modifications and variations in the spring-loaded coin-discharge gun of the present invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

ll. A coin discharge gun, comprising a grip section, a coin discharge nozzle at one end of said grip section, said nozzle including parallel top and bottom walls spaced a distance the thickness of a coin to be discharged therefrom, a coin cylinder disposed with its axis substantially normal to the planes of said walls, a portion-of said top wall overlying said cylinder, said cylinder having a coin passage opening at its inner end connecting with said dis charge nozzle, a coin ejector plate of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of a coin, means supporting said coin ejector plate for reciprocal movement from a first position overlying a portion of said cylinder at said inner end below said top wall to a second position externally of said cylinder remote from said coin passage opening, a release trigger pivotally supported for movement of one end thereof to close said coin passage opening in one position and to open it in another position thereof, resilient means normally maintaining said trigger in said one position thereof, a member connected to said ejector plate and projecting therefrom for engagement for moving said ejector plate from one of its said .positions to the other, and spring means connected to said member normally urging said member and said ejector plate into said first position thereof.

2. The coin discharge gun of claim 1, wherein said coin cylinder is formed integrally with said grip.

3. The coin discharge gun of claim 1, wherein said member connected to said coin ejector plate comprises a rod slidably supported on said nozzle and engaging said plate, said rod projecting forwardly of said nozzle.

4. The coin discharge gun of claim 1, wherein the top wall of said nozzle extends beyond said coin cylinder on the side opposite said nozzle, said top Wall extension formed with a slot; and wherein said membercomprises a rod slidably mounted on said top wall, said rod having an offset end portion extending through said slot and engaging saidcoin ejector plate, said rod projecting beyond the discharge end of said nozzle, and said spring means normally maintains said rod in its projecting position.

5. The coin discharge gun of claim 4, wherein said rod is disposed above the top wall of said nozzle in substantially parallel relation thereto and a cover is mounted on said top wall over the portion of the rod lying above said top nozzle wall.

6. The discharge gun of claim 4, wherein an upright References Cited by the Examiner lug is supported on said top wall adjacent the discharge UNITED STATES PATENTS end of said nozzle, said lug having an opening slidably 107 442 9/70 Buckman et a1 124 52 X supporting said rod and said spring means comprises an 2 4832/52 10/49 Bum 124 49 expansion spring mounted over said rod between said lug 5 2:527:254 10/50 and said offset end of said rod, one end of said spring anchored on said oflset end and the other end of said RICHARD PINKHAM Emmmerspring anchored on said lug. LOUIS R. PRINCE, Examiner. 

1. A COIN DISCHARGE GUN, COMPRISING A GRIP SECTION, A COIN DISCHARGE NOZZLE AT ONE END OF SAID GRIP SECTION, SAID NOZZLE INCLUDING PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS SPACED A DISTANCE THE THICKNESS OF A COIN TO BE DISCHARGED THEREFROM, A COIN CYLINDER DISPOSED WITH ITS AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANES OF SAID WALLS, A PORTION OF SAID TOP WALL OVERLYING SAID CYLINDER, SAID CYLINDER HAVING A COIN PASSAGE OPENING AT ITS INNER END CONNECTING WITH SAID DISCHARGE NOZZLE, A COIN EJECTOR PLATE OF A THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF A COIN, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID COIN EJECTOR PLATE FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION OVERLYING A PORTION OF SAID CYLINDER AT SAID INNER END BELOW SAID TOP WALL TO A SECOND POSITION EXTERNALLY OF SAID CYLINDER REMOTE FROM SAID COIN PASSAGE OPENING, A RELEASE TRIGGER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT OF ONE END THEREOF TO CLOSE SAID COIN PASSAGE OPENING IN ONE POSITION AND TO OPEN IT IN ANOTHER POSITION THEREOF, RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID TRIGGER IN SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF, A MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID EJECTOR PLATE AND PROJECTING THEREFROM FOR ENGAGEMENT FOR MOVING SAID EJECTOR PLATE FROM ONE OF ITS SAID POSITIONS TO THE OTHER, AND SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER NORMALLY URGING SAID MEMBER AND SAID EJECTOR PLATE INTO SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOF. 